Heating the chicken coop

[BrandonVercnocke]

I bought the cozy coop radiant heater and so far I’m happy with it. I will say that I dont technically “need” it but I want to pamper my small flock as much as possible.

 

[aart]

I bought the cozy coop radiant heater and so far I’m happy with it. I will say that I dont technically “need” it but I want to pamper my small flock as much as possible.

'Pampering' can lead to health issues...gotta think like a chicken, not a human.
Chickens do better in cooler environments.
They don't need heat as adults unless it gets down into the negative F°'s for an extended length of time.

 

[BrandonVercnocke]

'Pampering' can lead to health issues...gotta think like a chicken, not a human.
Chickens do better in cooler environments.
They don't need heat as adults unless it gets down into the negative F°'s for an extended length of time.

Although I respect your opinion and lord knows you have more experience than me, I’m having a hard time with this logic.

Take this example:
If I were still living in Los Angeles where it never gets below say 40 degrees. Would that lead to health problems? Are Los Angeles chickens less healthy than Portland chickens because they don’t experience cold?

Just because the outdoor temperature is lower in winter giving them the option to be as warm as a chicken one thousand miles south doesn’t immediately make me think it will cause problems.

I would agree that if I kept the coop at a constant 90 degrees forever that would probably cause issues. But a 10-15 degree above outdoor temps seems rather minor.

Am I wrong?

 

[jvls1942]

Although I respect your opinion and lord knows you have more experience than me, I’m having a hard time with this logic.

Take this example:
If I were still living in Los Angeles where it never gets below say 40 degrees. Would that lead to health problems? Are Los Angeles chickens less healthy than Portland chickens because they don’t experience cold?

Just because the outdoor temperature is lower in winter giving them the option to be as warm as a chicken one thousand miles south doesn’t immediately make me think it will cause problems.

I would agree that if I kept the coop at a constant 90 degrees forever that would probably cause issues. But a 10-15 degree above outdoor temps seems rather minor.

Am I wrong?

in a word,,,,yes.
I was going to post almost what Aart did.

I thought the OP was talking about a pair of ducks.. If they are Muscovy ., then they should be provided with DEEP straw bedding. because they do not pull their feet up into their bodies like mallard ducks do..
ducks and geese don't need heat.. It is best to let them find their favorite spot outside. just toss some straw in a spot that is sheltered from the wind and where the winter sun hits and they will be just fine. we have prolonged periods of temps of minus 10 to 20 F here in wisconsin..
.......jiminwisc......

 

[jreardon1918]

For heat in the coop, how about the summer months. Our little coop (see coop article) 4x8 is not insulated nor heated. There is a ridge vent, gable vents and two windows that are always open. The chickens did fine last winter. And for us in south east Mass, it got pretty cold.

 

[aart]

By 'pampering' I meant more than just adding heat where it is absolutely unnecessary.
No, your little heater will probably not create any dire consequences but it's just unnecessary, a waste of power(tho not much I presume)...and a possible fire risk.
In your climate you'll never need a heater, not even for keeping water thawed, so why bother? For us folks who live where we have to deal with extreme temps, both heat and cold, it's gonna seem illogical...and for most folks with more experience, we kind of understand the newbies exuberance for coddling their birds and realize much of it is unneeded....at least for the birds themselves. We worry more about do you have enough space and ventilation, have you protected the birds and their habitat against rain infiltration and run off flooding. Rain could be a dire concern in Portland, but adding heat, nope.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Since the ducks do not really need the heat and adding the heat would make the OP feel better maybe just move them in the house? Or just save the money and work on ventilation.

Gary

 

[enrgizerbunny]

As a firefighter, I can tell you a coop heater is a bad idea. Coop fires are all too common in the winter, and there's always a heat lamp or other source in the ashes in these. Start with good vertical ventilation and prevention of drafts.

 

[aart]

As a firefighter, I can tell you a coop heater is a bad idea. Coop fires are all too common in the winter, and there's always a heat lamp or other source in the ashes in these. Start with good vertical ventilation and prevention of drafts.

Seen any fires with the flat panel heaters @enrgizerbunny?
Read one story here where a flat panel scorched the wall it was hanging on,
probably manufacturer defect, but still.
Any electrical in a coop can be dangerous, dust and connections.

 

[wyoDreamer]

Aside from the danger of fire, or even asphixiation from faulty ventilation for gas heaters,
IMHO, the problem with adding heat to a coop is what happens to the birds when the power goes out, or the heater fails in the middle of the coldest night of the year? Because, yes, that is when problems develop. It is Murphy's Law.
Birds that live in an unheated coop can deal with the cold temps, but birds that are not acclimated to the cold will suffer if they suddenly lose their heat source.